Ecoforecast Africa

Jasper Slingsby \(^1\) and Glenn Moncrieff \(^2\)

\(^1\) University of Cape Town and South African Environmental Observation Network | \(^2\) The Nature Conservancy

Why an EFI for Africa?

Most data products that inform global policy are developed in the Global North, but these are erroneous in places, largely due to lack of local knowledge…

Being “stakeholders” is not good enough. We need Africans holding the reigns.

www.globalforestwatch.org

Everyone else is getting one?

We don’t want Africa left behind… again…

The South contribute significant data

We just need the skills and resources to make the most of it!

Although Africa is lagging behind…

And more than half of GBIF records are from South Africa (38,145,962 records).

Hopefully showing the value of our own data to our decision makers will improve this.

So what have we done?

Web page and form to collect expressions of interest

  • Set up a webpage with a Google form (ecoforecast.africa)

  • Chatted to people and put out a few calls

  • Excuses!

    • Glenn and I have both changed jobs recently
    • Working out where this stands relative to a separate initiative to start an African Quantitative Ecology Network (we’ll email our sign-ups once we know more…)

  • First meeting in the next few weeks

Interest so far?

Africa 21 (12 countries) | North America 11 | Europe 6 | Asia 4 | Many from or work in Africa

Interest so far?

Interest so far?


Great willingness to contribute skills!!! Especially from members of other EFIs


Much interest in research collaboration too!

Where to from here?

Web form at ecoforecast.africa
  • Sign up!!!


  • First meeting to discuss where to from here in the next few weeks


  • What model the African EFI adopts will be up for discussion. Note that while we are kickstarting the initiative, we do not claim ownership and invite broad participation, diverse perspectives and suggestions for the best leadership model.

Thanks!!!